Wednesday 24th October 07 - Shoot the Moon, The James Dean Syndrome & Santa's Buggerboyz at Lamp By Philip Wincolmlee Barnes (1/2)

(1/2), (2/2),

What's in a name? I do think about names a lot, not so much as a profound philosophical inquiry, but probably because I simply have too much time on my hands. So, what's with Shoot the Moon? I might have been being dense (and it wouldn't be the first time), but it wasn't a moniker that conjured up a specific sound or musical ethos - unless it's some sort of variant of 'reach for the stars'. If so, how close did they get to stellar rock n' roll ambitions?

They're a relatively new band, with all the freshness and eagerness that this entails, gig-hungry, approachable (important for a shy wallflower like me), and keen to get stuck in. Their first few numbers didn't have much impact on me, it must be said, but after my second customary half-pint (I know, not very rock n' roll, but we can't all aspire to Keef Richard's quarts of vodka) my ears did begin to pay more attention. They mentioned that one song was about a rape, or a rapist, which could have been seen as facetious (Kurt Cobain's Rape Me always made him sound like a prima donna twat to my ears), or as them simply tackling some edgy subject matter.

I'll assume it was the latter -but careful, now. Rather unsettling, perhaps, but it steamed along with Dunkirk Spirit. From there on in, albeit not making many musical innovations (I reckon these can come later, in due course), they delivered a consummately solid set.

They also introduced two new songs that had signs of real development and promise, with shades of a Led Zeppelin-like juggernaut swagger, minus (thankfully) the ridiculously high-pitched caterwauling a la Robert Plant. In fact, at some points you could have called them a 'swagger and roll' band itself - a certain amount of cocksure ease of delivery, almost (but not quite) to the point of louche indifference.

Whilst they're not quite shooting down any celestial orbs just yet, with a few of the customary growing pains they'll be sharpening up their aim and will be well on the way to delivering some impressive pot-shots. I'd be pleased to be within their firing line again in the future.

Continued .... Next Page (2/2)

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